Leadership and managing people

These four strategies can help.

John and Peter are two salesmen for the XYZ corporation. John sells twice as much as Peter. John earns twice as much as Peter, right? Wrong. John may even earn less. The XYZ corporation’s sales compensation plan is not unique in the modern business world. In the past decade many companies have turned to sophisticated […]

An examination of banks dealing with unexpected shocks.

Apply strengths from work to communicate more effectively with your teenager.

Training can make them even better.

If you need help transforming your organization’s wildest dreams into reality, introduce a new managerial device that’s as simple as it is effective.

Last week, there was a wonderful essay in The New York Times about a leadership program created by the old Bell System back in 1952. The all-powerful telephone company worried that its executives needed a broader perspective, not just on business but also on society, even life itself. “A well-trained man knows how to answer […]

The corporate president stared out the window of his skyscraper office. His forehead was furrowed in anger and puzzlement. His fingers drummed the arm of his chair with a speed that signified intense frustration. The other executives in the room waited expectantly. Each had said his piece. Each had come to his and her own […]

Four strategies to help you shift your mindset.

Technical fixes are not enough to deter hackers.

New reports show they need better training on how to assess talent.

People don't do their best work with one foot out the door.

“After 18 months our troops will begin to come home.” – President Obama speaking to the nation on his strategy for Afghanistan, December 1, 2009 In his West Point speech about the future of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, President Obama did four important things. First and most importantly, he took personal responsibility for winning the […]

Few activities in a workplace polarize like performance reviews. Some see them as subjective and ungrounded, one-sided and boss-dominated and something we should do away with entirely, an opinion put forth most recently in a Wall Street Journal article. Others find them an invaluable tool to develop employees and move the company forward. Our view? […]

Persuading others matters as much as getting along with them.

Is your company unintentionally keeping your most senior people from getting the feedback they most need? It can easily happen as an unintended consequence of success. Consider these situations: Senior executives at car companies drive only the newest models: For decades, the top executives at America’s leading automobile manufacturers always drove models fresh from the […]

Living your values will inspire and encourage others.

Ditch the virtual happy hour in favor of one-on-one chats.

Hitting the hiring bull’s-eye is one of an executive’s most important—and most difficult—responsibilities. Ten common mistakes can get in the way, but a pointed and systematic approach can virtually guarantee success.

Research shows that internal motivation - not external pressure - inspires us to be our best selves.